Uganda Case Law

Semliki Rift Trading Co. Ltd v ETS. Kamanzi Limited (HCT-01-CV-MA-0035-2025)

Semliki Rift Trading Co. Ltd v ETS. Kamanzi Limited (HCT-01-CV-MA-0035-2025) [2025] UGHC 525 (14 July 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

HCT-01-CV-MA-0035-2025

Judge

Wagona, J

The Respondent, ETS. Kamanzi Limited, was ordered by the Court on 25th February 2025 to furnish Ug. Shs. 50,000,000 as security for costs within one month in Civil Suit No. 60 of 2024. The Respondent failed to comply with this order and did not file any response to the present application. The law under Order 26 Rule 2(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules is clear that failure to furnish security for costs within the prescribed time mandates dismissal of the suit. The Supreme Court in Banco Arabe Espanol vs. Bank of Uganda affirmed that the court's power to dismiss is automatic in such circumstanc…

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• Security For Costs
• Dismissal Of Suit
• Court Orders
• Non Compliance
• Costs Award

Tom Walusimbi v Andrew Kisawuzi

Tom Walusimbi v Andrew Kisawuzi (Civil Appeal No. 37 of 2013) [2025] UGCA 225 (11 July 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 37 of 2013

Judge

Asa Mugenyi, JA/ JCC, Musa Ssekaana, JA/JCC, Stella Alibateese, JA/JCC

The Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge to title over a motor vehicle, holding the sale was not in market overt and the seller could not pass good title.

• Sale Of Goods
• Nemo Dat Rule
• Market Overt
• Ownership Of Property
• Estoppel
• Costs Award

Naomi Karugaba v Ronnie Rogers Amone and Ojwiya O. Nelson

Naomi Karugaba v Ronnie Rogers Amone and Ojwiya O. Nelson (Tax Reference No. 1 of 2024) [2025] UGHCCD 86 (1 July 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Tax Reference No. 1 of 2024

Judge

Simon Peter M. Kinobe, J

The court found that the taxing master generally exercised discretion judiciously and applied the relevant regulations in assessing the bill of costs. However, the instruction fees allowed exceeded the prescribed scale for the subject matter value, and the sum allowed for photocopying under item 10 was duplicative. The court revised the instruction fees to UGX 10,460,000 in line with the 6th schedule and taxed off the UGX 500,000 allowed for photocopying, resulting in a revised total bill of UGX 27,024,200. The court maintained the amounts allowed for transport as reasonable and declined to i…

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• Taxation Of Costs
• Advocates Remuneration
• Bill Of Costs Revision
• Court Discretion
• Costs Award

Ssebalamu Moses and Another v Mavuuma Moses and Others

Ssebalamu Moses and Another v Mavuuma Moses and Others (Civil Suit 73 of 2023) [2025] UGHC 467 (28 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 73 of 2023

Judge

Godfrey Himbaza, J

The High Court struck out a family succession suit for non-compliance with mandatory caveat requirements, but ordered each party to bear its own costs.

• Succession Act Compliance
• Letters Of Administration
• Family Estate Disputes
• Costs Award
• Will Validity
• Succession-law

Alexander Kizza Kiberu v Namugga Florence

Alexander Kizza Kiberu v Namugga Florence (Miscellaneous Application No. 10 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 475 (27 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 10 of 2024

Judge

Bukirwa, J

The High Court in Luwero dismissed the applicant’s withdrawal application and awarded costs to the respondent after the application was withdrawn at the applicant’s instance.

• Withdrawal Of Suit
• Costs Award
• Court Discretion On Costs
• Withdrawal-of-suit
• Costs-award
• Civil-procedure

Bukera and 4 Others v Kabenge J (Misc.Application No.O648 of 2023)

Bukera and 4 Others v Kabenge J (Misc.Application No.O648 of 2023) [2025] UGHCLD 104 (23 June 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc.Application No.O648 of 2023

Judge

Alividza, J

The High Court dismissed a miscellaneous application because the related appeal had already been dismissed, making the application overtaken by events.

• Dismissal Of Application
• Costs Award
• Effect Of Appeal Dismissal
• Miscellaneous-application
• Dismissal-of-application
• Civil-procedure-costs

Strogen Limited and Others v Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Ltd

Strogen Limited and Others v Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Ltd (Miscellaneous Application No. 348 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 175 (17 June 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 348 of 2025

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The High Court dismissed an application to set aside a judgment, finding no sufficient cause and holding that the applicants had been dilatory and aware of the proceedings.

• Setting Aside Ex Parte Judgment
• Sufficient Cause
• Mistake Of Counsel
• Dilatory Conduct
• Fair Hearing
• Costs Award

Kathryns Limited v DFCU Limited

Kathryns Limited v DFCU Limited (Miscellaneous Cause No. 126 of 2024) [2025] UGHCLD 95 (17 June 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause No. 126 of 2024

Judge

Nassuna Matovu, J

The High Court granted leave to substitute DFCU Ltd for DFCU Bank Ltd, but later dismissed the application with costs after the applicant failed to attend court.

• Amendment Of Parties
• Non Attendance
• Costs Award
• Amendment-of-parties
• Non-attendance
• Costs

Kabiswa Jimmy and Another v Senkaali Mulondo

Kabiswa Jimmy and Another v Senkaali Mulondo (Civil Appeal No. 04 of 2023) [2025] UGHCLD 94 (17 June 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 04 of 2023

Judge

Nassuna Matovu, J

The High Court allowed an appeal on costs, holding that the trial court erred by denying costs without reasons after dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

• Costs Award
• Jurisdiction Of Trial Court
• Third Party Procedure
• Costs-award
• Jurisdiction
• Civil-appeals

AGSRI Agricultural Services Private Limited v Horyal Investments Holding Company Limited

AGSRI Agricultural Services Private Limited v Horyal Investments Holding Company Limited (Miscellaneous Application No. 0185 of 2023) [2025] UGCommC 169 (30 May 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 0185 of 2023

Judge

Ocaya, J

The court found that while the Applicant failed to file written submissions due to counsel's mistake, the Applicant did not provide evidence of proactive steps to follow up with counsel or the court. However, considering the advanced stage of the dismissed suit and the need to bring finality to the dispute, the court exercised its discretion to allow the application, set aside the dismissal, and enlarge the time for filing submissions. The court emphasized that sufficient cause for reinstatement is a matter of judicial discretion, and while negligence of counsel is generally not visited on th…

Source excerpt

• Setting Aside Dismissal
• Reinstatement Of Suit
• Enlargement Of Time
• Consultancy Contract Dispute
• Court Discretion
• Costs Award